World Series of Fighting 3 Fighter Salaries: Josh Burkman and Jon Fitch Top $200,000 Payroll

Josh Burkman established himself as the promotion’s top welterweight by upsetting the incoming Jon Fitch in the night’s main event, while Steve Carl put his name in the welterweight mix with a win over Tyson Steele.

WSOF 3 took place Friday, June 14, at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

all they need to do is look at the last fight listed here and then we can stop talking about ufc not paying enough

Cam

After WSOF 1 people were saying that the WSOF was paying its fighters too much and that they’d go out of business with their salaries. Now I bet they’ll say they don’t pay enough

Baller31

You can not compare a fledgling startup mma promotion to the UFC. The guy who made $1000? It was his first professional fight, against a guy who had maybe 5 fights. There are 0 rookies in the UFC…all are experienced MMA veterans, most of whom were recruited because they had a very good record or were champion of a smaller promotion. Granted, WSOF mixes in a few veterans to balance things out, but in no way could or should the salaries of it’s fighters be commensurate with those in the UFC.

Jay

No way I’d risk serious injury to fight for $2,500. More power to them!

Chicago

What about a $1,000?…. that’s what they’re paying Josh Montalvo.

Cereal Killer

ESPN Friday Night fights used to pay as little as $250 for a boxing match! They figured you were on tv, that’s enough pay in itself.

Larry

I used to do it for free. Either you want to fight, or you don’t.

adice89

very true. If your fighting just for money, it takes a LONNNNG time to get there. You have to be willing to go a while with no pay. Amatures get paid NOTHING. You go pro and you get a dollar. Not everyone is GSP.

John Mathewson

Alos think of endorsements and gym name. They might get 1K or 5K but if they do well enough they will get their money outside the ring.

Timothy Malone

If you combine the pay of every single fighter except the main and co-main events, you will get approximately the amount James Krause was paid in his first ever UFC prelim fight.